LEARNING TO LIVE IN LOCAL HARMONY WITH NATURE

The interaction between nature and humanity is a critical focus in today's world. As we have distanced ourselves from nature, it's crucial to understand that in the Earth's ecosystem, one cannot take without also giving back. Creating a better balance is imperative, necessitating a holistic approach to living, dwelling, and cultivating for the thriving of all species.

Establishing a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is one way to initiate local collaboration to strengthen the interactions with environments that sustain both nature and people. Biosphere Reserves are designed to deal with one of the most important questions the world faces today: How can we reconcile the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and the maintenance of associated cultural values?

The global situation is challenging the way we live, produce, and interact with nature.

If we are to meet the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) we need a diverse approach. To reach these goals, a range of instruments, tools, actions, and traditional protection measures are necessary and needed. 

The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) offers a holistic and well-documented tool to address global challenges such as climate change and the biodiversity crisis through local actions.

Among the 23 targets, the GBF aims to protect at least 30 percent of the planet's land and water by 2030. Yet, even if we succeed in protecting 30 percent of the Earth's surface, the challenge of addressing the remaining 70 percent remains. This is a central aspect of the GBF's 2050 vision: to live in harmony with nature. Additional changes outside the protected areas are also necessary and crucial.

Being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve means being part of an ongoing process of learning and improvement. It is about developing solutions that enable people and nature to co-exist in harmony. This process acknowledges that what works well in one place may not be effective in another, given differences in culture, environment, and resources.

The Nordic UNESCO Biosphere Reserves offer a strong approach to supporting the local implementation of the GBF and enhancing the opportunities and capabilities of local communities to work strategically and in a place-based manner on sustainable development. This includes recognizing the importance of improving the relationship between nature and culture.

To support local communities in innovating and contributing to the implementation of the GBF, we have developed this guide to help transform many existing good practices into "next practices" that are innovative, adaptable, and aligned with global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change.